📍 Carso
DOC on the karst plateau near Trieste, also called Carso – Kras.
Carso, or Carso – Kras in its bilingual Italian and Slovene form, is a protected designation of origin for wines from the karst plateau around Trieste in Friuli Venezia Giulia, north-eastern Italy.
The zone covers the whole of the communes of Trieste, Duino-Aurisina, Monrupino, Muggia, San Dorligo della Valle and Sgonico in the province of Trieste and Doberdò del Lago in the province of Gorizia, plus parts of Monfalcone, Ronchi dei Legionari, Fogliano-Redipuglia, Sagrado and Savogna d'Isonzo.
The land is limestone karst with outcropping rock and hollows, facing the Adriatic. Soils are mostly thin clay or silty clay; many caves swallow the rain and leave a water shortage in summer. The climate is Mediterranean, with the north-easterly bora wind. Vines have been grown here since ancient times: the Roman writer Pliny the Elder mentions a wine called «Pucino».
The main varieties include Vitovska, Malvasia Istriana, Terrano, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, Merlot, the Cabernets, Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and Traminer Aromatico. Terrano needs at least 10.5% total alcohol, and several types may also be Riserva.
How it connects to Wine
📍 Carso ← main grape of ← 🍇 Terrano → kind of → 🍇 Grape varieties → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Part of
- 📍 Friuli-Venezia Giulia
- Grapes
- 🍇 Vitouska, 🍇 Terrano
- Main grapes
- 🍇 Vitouska, 🍇 Terrano
- Wines
- 🍷 White wine, 🍷 Red wine
- Related to
- 🍷 Still wine
Frequently asked questions
Where is Carso?
On the karst plateau around Trieste, in communes of the provinces of Trieste and Gorizia.
Which grapes are typical of Carso?
Among others Vitovska, Malvasia Istriana and the red Terrano, plus Refosco, Merlot and others.
Why is the DOC also called Carso – Kras?
Kras is the Slovene name of the same karst; the DOC is registered under both forms.
What to read next
- 🍇 Vitouska — A white grape of the Karst near Trieste making mineral and "orange" wines.
- 🍷 Red wine — Wine from dark grapes that ferments with the skins and takes its colour from them.
- 🍷 Still wine — Wine without noticeable bubbles: EU category 1, at least 8.5–9 % actual alcohol and no more than 15 % total; red, white, rosé or orange.
- 🍷 White wine — Wine made from grape juice without the skins; it can come from pale and even dark berries.
Similar
📍 Friuli Grave · 📍 Collio · 📍 Friuli Colli Orientali · 📜 Friuli Annia · 📜 Venezia Giulia · 📍 Karst
⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.
Sources
- eAmbrosia: Carso / Carso – Kras (EUGI00000006164), single document PDO-IT-A0910-AM01
- eAmbrosia register: Carso – Kras
- Wikidata